Monday Morning In Benalla Poem by Francis Duggan

Monday morning in Benalla just an hour after daybreak
Listening to the Aussie magpie his voice one cannot mistake
In the park by Broken River on a tree with lake nearby
Piping in the morning sunshine magpie's song a thing of joy.

Then I hear a blackbird singing takes me back to Erin's shore
My heart has returned to Ireland back to the leafy grove once more
Descendant of Europe's blackbird black feathers and golden bill
And same type of bird as sweet voiced songsters in the wood by Clara hill.

And the little plain house sparrows chirping in the freshening breeze
Every time I hear and see them it stir up the old memories
Of when I was a young boy years ago and far away
Sparrows on the barn rafters in the Spring built nests of hay.

And the shy and common rabbits in the parklands often seen
Their ancestors introduced from Britain where the fields are evergreen
Quite at home here in Australia home of the marsupial kind
And rabbits they will even fatten on grass dried from sun and wind.

And the Indian mynas calling mynas like to have their say
Their ancestors introduced from India from New Delhi and Bombay
Mynas are urban dwellers from the outback they keep away
And like blackbird and like sparrow in the town they'd rather stay.

Galahs and sulphur crested cockatoos squawking loudly whilst in flight
Galahs pink and grey with white caps and sulphur crested cockies pigeon sized and white
It's a strange Land for a stranger a strange sight for migrant eyes
Foreign breeds and native Aussies mixed together make strange noise.

And Australia's best known member of the kingfisher family
Kookaburra laughing loudly on low branch of old gum tree
He laugh loud and he laugh hearty and on a calm and windless day
One might hear a kookaburra laughing half a mile away.

Monday morning in Benalla up North East Victoria way
Sun rising with face flushed rosy promises a warm day
Cockies squawking, songbirds piping, rabbits nibbling grass
turned brown
From the sun in park Benalla in Benalla's country Town.